10 DECEMBER 2016

On the Move: SecondsOut World Rankings 4/3/11

Huck (R) SecondsOut's No.1 Cruiser

By Derek Bonnett: The theme for this week’s boxing action is "New Faces" as four previously unranked fighters climbed aboard SecondOut’s top ten lists. Regrettably, Denis Boytsov, Andy Lee, Juan Carlos Burgos and Edrin Dapudong had to say goodbye to top ten honors for now. It was a week of big time KOs and questionable scoring, so the work of professional prizefighting marches into April without much of a change.

On Saturday, April 2, at Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, Marco Huck added his sixth title defense with a won over Ran Nakash in a twelve round WBO cruiserweight title bout. The decision victory elevated Huck’s record to 32-1 (23). Nakash, a substitute for the injured Giacobbe Fragomeni, dropped to 25-1 (18).

Huck’s activity and quality of opposition keeps him ranked ahead of Steve Cunningham, his lone conqueror. The two are ranked number one and two respectively at SecondsOut.

On the same card, Robert Helenius stopped Sam Peter in the ninth round to improve his record to 15-0 (10) as a heavyweight. Peter, a former champion, dropped to 34-5 (27).

Helenius, previously unranked, steps in to steal the number ten ranking from Denis Boytsov. The pride of Finland has been more active against a higher quality of opposition in his short career. Boytsov exits for the time being.

At Auditorio del Estadio, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, Giovanni Segura blasted Ivan Calderon in three rounds of WBO light flyweight title bout. Segura won their rematch in spectacular fashion to raised his resume’s value to 27-1-1 (23). Calderon, an all-time great 105 and 108 pounder, fell to 34-2-1 (6).

Segura remains the head honcho among SecondsOut’s junior flyweights. Calderon falls from second to fifth, but retirement may hang heavy on the Puerto Rican’s mind. Roman Gonzalez, Ulises Solis, and Luis Alberto Lazarte all climb one ranking. Gonzalez-Segura is among the most attractive match-ups in the sport today.

At Arena Roberto Duran, Panama City, Panama, Luis Concepcion was upset by Hernan Marquez in a wild WBA flyweight bout. After dropping each other in the first round, Marquez scored two more knockdowns in the third and tenth. The bout was stopped in the eleventh to crown Marquez the new champion. Mexico’s Marquez enhanced his ledger to 30-2 (23). Concepcion dropped to 22-2 (17).

Previously unranked, Marquez crashes the SecondsOut hierarchy of flyweights at three. Moruti Mthalane, who scored a big win last week, is pushed up to second. Concepcion falls from second to fourth. Edrin Dapudong again exits the top ten.

In spite of the win, Sosa is pushed down ranking to accommodate Marquez’ arrival in the division. The previously ranked four through nine all fell one ranking.

At Hala Luczniczka, Bydgoszcz, Poland, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk struggled to outpoint Francisco Palacios in a twelve round WBA cruiserweight title bout. Wlodarczyk won a controversial split decision to move his career forward. His record now stands at 45-2-1 (32). Palacios earns respect in defeat, but dropped to 20-1 (13).

Wlodarczyk falls from fourth to fifth given the questionable nature of his victory over an unranked SecondsOut fighter. Troy Ross replaces him at fourth. Palacios remains unranked, but is on the cusp.

Other previously unranked fighters also entering the rankings at SecondsOut are Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam of France. N’Jikam won a questionably wide decision over Giovanni Lorenzo for his career best win. N’Jikam enters at ninth. Also, Mexico’s old warhorse Jorge Lacierva outpointed Fernando Beltran Jr. to climb aboard at tenth among SecondsOut’s featherweights.